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Menstrual Cycle and Citalopram

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amybelle88
amybelle88

Hi everyone, mainly the women!

I wrote a post a few weeks ago about how well I was doing and wanted to offer some positivity and support to people. I'm still very much doing well, but my upward trajectory has paused temporarily.

I'm on week 5 of my dose increase and a little late for my cycle, which I'm not massively worried about as Citalopram can interfere with the menstrual cycle, with 'menstrual cycle irregularities' listed in the side effects of the BNF.

I've noticed that before my period - maybe a few days before, I have bit of a blip - does anyone else have this? I've took a look at it scientifically and it does make sense, especially when you're on your first few cycles as you start taking the drug. We have two estrogen drops throughout our cycle, one after we ovulate and then it climbs again slightly, then one before our period. Increased estrogen has an increase affect on serotonin, therefore when it decreases, so does our serotonin, so when we are taking a drug that is made to balance serotonin and it has done so for a certain amount of time throughout our cycle, when our body changes its hormonal chemistry it must be hard for it to keep up. I've also read that we could even experience heightened citalopram side effects during this time, too, as it's almost like the drug is rebalancing serotonin again. This does get better in time, but I was wondering if anybody did anything holistic to manage this time of the month?

I want to try and balance my hormones as much as possible so that I stay on more of an even keel - when I have the premenstrual dip it does hit hard, although admittedly not as hard as before I increased the citalopram dose. My mood seems to become a lot more sad, I panic more, I wake through the night more which is never usually a problem for me, just in general heightened symptoms. I'd be interested to hear how other women get on? I struggle with feeling so disheartened as the last couple of weeks before my estrogen drops I've literally felt amazing, which in turn, made me feel so much more positive.

Amy xx

1 like, 3 replies

3 Replies

  • jadelou93
    jadelou93 amybelle88

    Edited

    Hi Amy,

    i am so glad you posted this, i just came on to ask a similar question myself.

    I feel this way too about a week before i am due on. And today is the day i finished and i feel a heavy head, lights seem so bright and i generally feel ... bleh, lol. If that makes any kind of sense.

    Do you find that you just feel like your going backwards a bit during? I feel down and just can't be bothered to do anything, and with 2 kids it's not a fun or good to have lol.

    I know I'm not much help on your question, but i hope it eases for you too, soon.

    Jade

    • amybelle88
      amybelle88 jadelou93

      Edited

      Hi Jade,

      Isn't it hard work?! The week before my period I get so tearful, I could cry because the sky is blue! My anxiety increases, I feel fatigued, just off and not myself at all but the mood dips are horrible. When I start my period, it tends to dissipate and I become 'me' again. My psychologist thinks that I may be suffering with PMDD, which is basically PMS on steroids. The treatment is SSRIs and I must admit, since I upped my dose, the week before isn't as intense but it's still crap. I find myself overthinking and ruminating again, things that I've got on top of since my increase. It is like going backwards, though, definitely.

      I'm also anaemic as I don't have a duodenum - I make sure I eat food with lots of iron when I'm on my period as at the end, if I haven't, I feel exactly like you just have minus the light sensitivity, but you could be having a migraine. Our iron is at its lowest at the end of our period and iron deficiency can cause migraines, with a side effect of those being light sensitivity and a bleh feeling which can feel like hangover. Maybe top yourself up with a bit of iron when you're on your period and see if that helps, if you can't eat extra iron?

      Amy x

    • jadelou93
      jadelou93 amybelle88

      Posted

      Heyya Amy,

      Thank you so much for replying!

      I never thought of low Iron, you may be right! I'll have to give it a try, today the light sensitivity has gone but still had a mild headache, it's annoying lol.

      I'm glad you're feeling a bit better atleast. It is hard work, especially with the side effects of Citalopram too. I'm still having mild side effects but my anxiety is so much better.

      Thanks again for the Iron tip, I'm going to give it a try and see how i feel.

      Jade x

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